At the April 2007 annual meeting of the Biotechnology Association of Alabama (BAA), new executive director Kax thy Nugent discussed a strategic plan to introduce the state to industry "thought leaders" - venture capitalists, investment bankers, pharmaceutical companies, and the media. A BAA survey of Alabama's life sciences companies in 2006 showed 90 firms in bio-related industries in various stages of development.

The $150 million, 260,000-square-foot Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, slated for a fall opening in Huntsville, will contain state-of-the-art laboratories for biotechnology research and development in the areas of genetics and personalized medicine, with the help of its 900 employees. Last year, Birmingham heralded the opening of the Richard C. and Annette N. Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at the University of Alabama, which increased UAB's available research space by 25 percent.

"We want to be a part of the significant defense and aerospace initiatives here."

The $150 million, 260,000-square-foot Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, slated for a fall opening in Huntsville, will contain state-of-the-art laboratories for biotechnology research and development in the areas of genetics and personalized medicine, with the help of its 900 employees. Last year, Birmingham heralded the opening of the Richard C. and Annette N. Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at the University of Alabama, which increased UAB's available research space by 25 percent.

Aerospace continues help the economy take flight. With more than 300 aerospace-related companies, this sector is comprised of firms specializing in space and defense; aviation; and maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Major government facilities include the Redstone Arsenal, the Marshall Space Flight Center, and the National Space Science and Technology Center.

In Huntsville, Cummings Research Park's (CRP) aerospace and defense tenants include Boeing, United Technologies Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin. Northrop Grumman recently held a ribbon cutting and open house dedication for its new facility, the first of four planned buildings to complete the Northrop Grumman CRP Campus. The firm employs 1,200 people in the Huntsville area and supports many regional military customers, such as the U.S. Army Space and Missile Command, Army Aviation and Missile Command, Army Program Executive Office for Aviation, Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, U.S. Missile Defense Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Aerospace continues help the economy take flight. With more than 300 aerospace-related companies, this sector is comprised of firms specializing in space and defense; aviation; and maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Major government facilities include the Redstone Arsenal, the Marshall Space Flight Center, and the National Space Science and Technology Center.

In Huntsville, Cummings Research Park's (CRP) aerospace and defense tenants include Boeing, United Technologies Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin. Northrop Grumman recently held a ribbon cutting and open house dedication for its new facility, the first of four planned buildings to complete the Northrop Grumman CRP Campus. The firm employs 1,200 people in the Huntsville area and supports many regional military customers, such as the U.S. Army Space and Missile Command, Army Aviation and Missile Command, Army Program Executive Office for Aviation, Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, U.S. Missile Defense Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.